Once Upon A One Night Stand

Ignoring her gaze, Li Han replied coldly, "Tell her the truth."

In an instant, Jiang Chujing became the center of this affair unexpectedly. She had an urge to tell Shu Tian all about the past between Li Han and herself, about how they had known each other since childhood and established a strong bond with each other ever since. How she wished to tell Shu Tian that no one could break them up!

However, the nervous look on Li Han's face kept reminding her that she would lose him forever if she said anything she shouldn't have.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Chujing turned back to Shu Tian. After a few seconds of silence, she finally spoke to her in a gentle voice. "I've always considered Li Han as my brother, even though we're not actually related. There's nothing else between us. Please don't be oversensitive."

She sounded considerate, but Shu Tian was still uncomfortable with something in her words. Oversensitive? According to the scene Shu Tian had just seen, she had every right to be suspect that there was something going on between Li Han and this woman!

"Brother that's not related?" Shu Tian sneered. "How interesting is that!"

Li Han compressed his lips together. "Her parents are my benefactors."

Shu Tian turned to him, querying him with her eyes that were red and swollen from crying. "Then why do you lie to me?"

Although nothing happened between him and Jiang Chujing, Li Han still felt guilty when he met Shu Tian's eyes. "Chujing is still recuperating. I was planning to tell you about her when she recovered."

"When will that be?" Shu Tian found breathing extremely difficult at this time. Li Han's words suffocated her like tons of water. "When were you going to tell me the truth if I didn't come here and discover it myself? Is it fun to treat me like an idiot? Do you ever feel guilty for lying to me?"

She added before Li Han could say anything. "Li Han, did I ever know the real you?"

The Li Han she saw today was nothing like the man she had used to know. In Shu Tian's opinion, Li Han disdained to lie and would never promise anyone anything he couldn't do. She believed that every word of him counted. However, the man she had trusted so much had made her a complete joke today.

She recalled the days when he left her late at night or just spent the whole night elsewhere. What was he thinking when he lied and mixed with two women?

Shu Tian trembled in fear. Now that her trust in him had collapsed, she felt so strange about the man who was standing in front of her right now. Whoever he was, he wasn't the one she had loved.

The despair in her eyes made Li Han worry that he was going to lose her. "Tian, I came here only because I was worried about her health. There's nothing else between her and me. I..."

"What else do you hope that will happen? Aren't the lies you've told me not enough for you?"

Li Han couldn't answer her questions. Everything he had feared to happen still happened. No matter what was the reason, he failed her trust by lying to her.

"I'm sorry, Tian. I'm sorry..." He apologized humbly.

This was the first time Jiang Chujing had seen Li Han being so humble to a woman. In her opinion, he had always been a proud and cold man who was crowded and flattered by countless people. He had never lowered his head to anyone but was willing to be as humble as dust for Shu Tian.

Jiang Chujing's heart hurt so much as if someone had stabbed a knife in it. Staring at the man she had loved and cherished begging for Shu Tian's forgiveness like that, Jiang Chujing could hardly stand. She glared at Shu Tian. According to Li Han's attitude, she was afraid to be alienated by him because of Shu Tian.

Jiang Chujing felt a chill down her spine at the thought of leaving Li Han forever. Seeing the two of them were deadlocked, she walked over and cast down her eyes to hide the hatred. "Miss Shu, I'm sorry if I caused you to misunderstand the relationship between Li Han and me. My parents once helped him and also died because of him. After that, I treated Li Han as my family. I'm sorry that I have to rely on him to cure the strange disease I'm suffering. Have pity on me. I'd really appreciate it if you can understand."

She played the family card well by mentioning her parents when explaining her relationship with Li Han. Shu Tian had no choice but to accept the fact that this woman wouldn't disappear from Li Han's life as Shu Tian wished.

Shu Tian was upset when she thought of this. Why did she have to make a choice now?

"Tian..."

Li Han was about to say something, but Shu Tian raised her hand and interrupted him. "Don't talk to me. I want some time alone."

She was exhausted after so many things that happened tonight. Her head ached, filled with stuff that needed her to sort out.

Li Han grabbed her wrist more tightly when he felt that she was trying to wrench herself free. "I'll drive you home."

"Leave me alone."

"Get in the car." Li Han repeated firmly. For her safety, he wouldn't allow her to go home alone in such a terrible condition. What's more, he was so afraid to never see her again if she left like this. Knowing that Li Han wouldn't stay, Jiang Chujing opened the door for Shu Tian without showing any reluctance. "Be careful on the road."

Shu Tian ignored her while Li Han nodded at Jiang Chujing gently. Then the two of them left by car.

Standing at the entrance to this empty villa, Jiang Chujing watched the car light disappear gradually in the dark. Jealousy registered on her face, replacing the softness she had faked. Li Han loved that woman more than Jiang Chujing had imagined. Jiang Chujing swore to herself that she wouldn't allow anyone to steal the love that once belonged to her and would definitely win Li Han's heart back!

[...]

The car remained in silence on their way back. Shadows were cast by the streetlights on their faces, as dark as their currently gloomy moods.

Shu Tian looked exhausted with her eyes closed. Li Han knew she was refusing him in silence. She didn't want to talk to or even see him.

Li Han gritted his teeth with both hands on the steering wheel. There seemed to be a thread between them that would break easily when pulled by either of them.

It was almost dawn when they arrived at the Imperial Villa. Just as Li Han parked the car in the garage, Shu Tian was reaching out to open the door.

Li Han locked the door before she could leave, causing the atmosphere to become tense immediately.

"Let me go." Half a minute later, Shu Tian spoke first.

The Adam's Apple of Li Han moved as he turned to Shu Tian with difficulty. He tasted something bitter when he tried to call her name. It took all his strength to finally speak to her. "Tian..."

Shu Tian's tears, which she had just held back, filled her eyes again because of this word. Without looking at him, she said in a trembling voice. "Li Han, don't push me. Leave me alone now, or I may lose control of myself."

She eagerly needed a space to think through all of this, but with him around, she could never calm down.

Li Han wanted so much to hold her in his arms and explain everything to her. However, her pale face prevented him from saying anything. He could feel the pain she was suffering now. His heart hurt as if someone had torn it apart.

He leaned against the chair, looking ahead. Then he closed his eyes, raised his chin up a little bit, and then unlocked the door.

She told him not to push her. Okay, he wouldn't.

Shu Tian compressed her lips together, paused for a second, and then left the car without looking back. The light in the car went out again, leaving Li Han alone in the dark.